Objective:To investigate whether dual-energy computed tomography(DECT) measurement of monosodium urate(MSU) crystal loading can predict the risk of gout flares.Methods:A single-center, prospective, observational study included 229 gout patients initially diagnosed at the Gout Clinic of Qingdao University from August 2021 to February 2022. The patients underwent MSU assessment of the bilateral feet using DECT. Following enrolment, all patients commenced uric acid-lowering therapy(ULT) and were followed up at 3 and 6 months. Patients who experienced at least one flare within 6 months were compared with those who did not, and the odds ratio( OR) for the risk of gout flares was calculated. Results:Patients who experienced gout flare had a significantly longer disease duration[(6.69±5.42) vs(4.14±4.86) years, P<0.01], a higher number of flares in the past year(4.80±1.73 vs 2.02±1. 23, P<0.01), a higher proportion of fatty livers(11.0% vs 1.4%, P<0.05), and a greater volume of MSU crystals in the feet[(3.52±9.74) vs(0.29±0.98)cm 3,P<0.05] compared to patients without gout flare. The results of the multifactorial logistic regression analysis indicated that the number of flares in the past year( OR=1.295, 95% CI 1.032-1.613, P<0.05) and feet MSU crystal volume( OR=3.245, 95% CI 1.164-9.064, P<0.05) were independent risk factors for gout flares. The receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve indicated the integration of the MSU prediction model into the clinical prediction model resulted in a comprehensive prediction model with an area under curve(AUC) value of 0.780(95% CI 0.710-0.840), sensitivity of 0.83, and specificity of 0.62. Internal validation of the comprehensive prediction model using the Bootstrap method yielded a C-index of 0.770(95% CI 0.701-0.833) for predicting flares. The calibration curve of the model demonstrated a good fit between the predicted probability of flares and the actual probability, indicating high calibration accuracy. Conclusion:The volume of MSU crystals in the feet is an independent risk factor for flares following ULT. A larger volume of MSU crystals in the foot increases the likelihood of a flare. This study provides a basis for early prediction of flare and a reference for early preventive treatment.

Objective:To investigate urinary pH distribution and its influencing factors in gout patients, to provide insights for individualized treatment.Methods:This is a retrospective study. The gout patients in the Gout Outpatient Department of the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from September 2019 to August 2021 were collected. Clinical data were collected and relevant indicators were measured. The patients were divided into different groups according to urinary pH. Clinical characteristics and factors related to urinary pH were compared among the groups. SPSS 23.0 software was used.Results:A total of 2 553 patients were enrolled. There were significant statistical differences in age, body mass index, triglyceride, alanine aminotransferase(ALT), blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR), blood uric acid, urinary uric acid/creatinine ratio, fraction excretion of uric acid(FEUA) among groups with different urinary pH( F were 5.114, 4.772, 7.170, 4.721, 13.603, 2.812, 3.422, 22.834, 18.230, 26.332, all P<0.05). Urinary uric acid and FEUA in acute group were higher than those in remission group( Z were -2.295, -3.528, both P<0.05). After adjusting for gender, age, eGFR, logistics regression analysis showed that body mass index, triglyceride, total cholesterol, ALT, blood uric acid, and blood urea nitrogen were still risk factors. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that triglyceride, blood uric acid, and blood urea nitrogen were independent risk factors associated with acid urine. Linear correlation analysis showed that urinary pH was negatively correlated with body mass index, triglyceride, total cholesterol, blood uric acid, fasting glucose, blood urea nitrogen, ALT( r were -0.079, -0.106, -0.051, -0.186, -0.040, -0.122, -0.051, all P<0.05), but positively correlated with eGFR( r=0.058, P=0.003). Conclusion:The overall urine pH levels in patients with primary gout are below normal reference. Several metabolic components are related to it. Triglyceride, blood uric acid, and blood urea nitrogen are independent risk factors of acidic urine. In clinical practice, attention should be paid to timely alkalization of urine to prevent complications.

Objective To investigate the pathogenesis of superficial mycosis among naval trainees, and observe the efficacy of a novel antifungal drug. Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted on the onset, medication and recurrence of superficial fungal infection among the trainees from January, 2020 to July, 2020. At the same time, the new antifungal drug sulconazole nitrate spray was provided for treatment and the drug efficacy was observed. Results The participants generally lacked understanding and attention to superficial fungal infections. The incidence rate of superficial fungal infection was 52%, of which 76.2% of patients had recurrence of superficial fungal infection. The sulconazole nitrate spray showed great effect against these infections. Conclusion The trainees should understand the causes of superficial fungal infection through health education and seek medical treatment and medication in time. The cure rate of superficial fungal infections could only be improved through the collaborative management of the school, hospital, and trainees to reduce the impact of these infections on naval trainees’ work and life.

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics and risk factors of multiple tophi among gout patients.Methods:Gout patients treated at Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from September 2017 to September 2021 were included retrospectively. According to the number of tophi, the patients were divided into the multiple tophi group, the single tophi group and the non-tophi group. Clinical data were collected, biochemical indices and urine pH value were determined. One- way ANOVA or Chi-square test was used to compare groups, and multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors. Results:The age, disease course, blood pressure, serum uric acid, urea nitrogen, and the rate of family history, smoking, drinking, gout attacks≥2 twice per year, hypertension, cardio-cerebrovascular diseases, kidney stones in the multiple tophi group were significantly higher than those in the single tophi group and the non-tophi group. The glomerular filtration rate, urine pH value and the rate of regular exercise were significantly lower than those of single tophi group and non-tophi group. In the multiple tophi group, 245 cases(44.46%) were involved in the interphalangeal joint or metacarpophalangeal joint, 212 cases(38.47%) were involved in other joints of the upper limb, which was second only to the first metatarsophalangeal joint(349 cases, 63.33%). Logistic regression analysis showed that the course of disease, urea nitrogen, serum uric acid, positive family history, drinking, gout attacks ≥twice per year and hypertension were the risk factors for multiple tophi in gout patients. Conclusion:Patients with a long disease course, elevated uric acid, high urea nitrogen, positive family history, alcohol consumption, frequent gout flare and hypertension are more likely to develop multiple tophi.

Objective:To explore the application and effect of multidisciplinary collaboration in patients with tophi during perioperative period.Methods:Forty-five patients undergoing tophaceous gout surgery in our hospital from May to October 2020 were selected as the control group and treated with routine treatment.From November 2020 to April 2021, 41 patients undergoing tophaceous gout surgery in our hospital who were treated with multidisciplinary collaboration management mode were included as the intervention group. Postoperative pain, blood uric acid level, hospitalization expenses, hospitalization days and patient satisfaction were compared between the two groups.Results:After implementing the multidisciplinary integration man-agement mode, the pain score of the patients at 4 hours, 1 day and 3 days after operation was lower than that of the control group [(3.6±1.0) vs (4.1±1.0), t=2.33, P=0.022; (2.5±0.8) vs (3.0±0.6), t=3.85, P<0.001; (1.8±0.5) vs (2.2±0.7), t=3.52, P<0.001], the serum uric acid level was significantly lower than that of the control group at 1 month and 3 months after operation [(355±58) vs (3928±39), t=3.50, P=0.001; (316±48) vs (366±47), t=4.84, P<0.001], the hospitalization days and hospitalization expenses were significantly decreased [(8.90±2.48) d vs (10.62±3.96) d, t=2.44, P=0.017; (1.00±0.13) ten thousand yuan vs (1.11±0.17) ten thousand yuan, t=3.34, P=0.001], and the patient satisfaction was markedly improved (97.6% vs 82.2%, χ2=3.87, P=0.049). Conclusion:The multi-disciplinary collaboration mode in patients with tophi during perioperative period can effectively reduce the postoperative pain, improve the quality of care, promote reha-bilitation, improve the outcome, and reduce the economic burden of patients, which is worthy of popularization and being applied in clinic.

Objective:To explore the impact of pain, functional disability, self-efficacy and social support on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in gout patients.Methods:From November 2019 to January 2020, a total of 218 patients with gout were investigated using the general information questionnaire, Visual Analogue Scale, Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index, General Self-Efficacy Scale, Perceived Social Support Scale, and Gout Impact Scale. The structural equation model was established by AMOS 24.0 for parth analysis, and the mechanism of pain dysfuction, self-efficacy and social support affecting the quality of life in gout patients was tested.Results:The total score of Gout Impact Scale, pain, functional disability, self-efficacy and social support respectively was 59.94±18.39, 6.00±2.76, 0.25 0, 0.88, 23.39±6.40 and 62.92±8.24. Pain directly influenced HRQOL ( β=-0.293, P<0.01), and indirectly influenced HRQOL ( β=-0.039, P<0.05). Functional disability directly influenced HRQOL ( β=-0.244, P<0.01). Self-efficacy directly influenced HRQOL ( β=0.182, P<0.01), and indirectly influenced HRQOL ( β=0.202, P<0.01) through pain and functional disability. Social support indirectly influenced HRQOL ( β=0.278, P<0.01) through pain, functional disability and self-efficacy. Conclusions:HRQOL of patients among gout is affected by several factors, mainly affected by pain, functional disability and self-efficacy; and there are interactions among them. Targeted interventions should be strengthened to relieve pain, prevent or slow down the progress of physical disability, enhance self-efficacy and social support to improve HRQOL.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics and risk factors associated with the formation of subcutaneous tophi among young gout patients.Methods:Gout patients treated at the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from September 2016 to June 2020 were included. The clinical information was collected and relevant biochemical indices were detected. Fasting urine was collected to test urine pH value, urine uric acid and urine creatinine. Patients were divided into young tophi group and non-tophi group according to age. The measurement data of normal distribution was expressed as Mean±Standard deviation, and independent sample t test and one-way analysis of variance were used. The counting data was tested by Chi-square test. The risk factors were analyzed by logistic regression. Results:A total of 4 798 primary gout patients were collected. There were 915 patients with subcutaneous tophi, 2 308 young gout patients, 252 young gouty tophi patients among them. The average BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, triglyceride level, serum uric acid level, glomerular filtration rate, alanineamino -transferase (ALT) and aspartate amino -transferase (AST) in the young tophi group were significantly higher than those in the middle-age tophi group ( F=46.074, 2.551, 9.203, 10.370, 15.118, 68.741, 35.023, 5.175, all P<0.05). Average age of disease onset, systolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, urine FEUA, Uua/Ucr and urea nitrogen level in young tophi group were significantly lower than those in middle-age tophi group ( F=474.876, 7.629, 6.441, 34.877, 3.633, 50.867, all P<0.05]. The age [(35±7) years old vs (33±7) years old], disease course [(7±4) years vs (4±3) years], blood pressure [(139±17) mmHg vs (135±16) mmHg], [(90±13) mmHg vs (86±12) mmHg], serum triglyceride [(2.6±2.1) mmol/L vs (2.4±2.0) mmol/L], total cholesterol [(4.9±1.4) mmol/L vs (4.6±1.4) mmol/L], serum uric acid [(547±171) μmol/L vs (490±160) μmol/L], urea nitrogen [(5.0±2.0) mmol/L vs (4.4±1.7) mmol/L], family history (27.0% vs 19.6%) and smoking rate(56.0% vs 48.9%) of tophi patients were significantly higher than those of non-tophi patients in young patients ( t=4.717, P<0.05; t=12.838, P<0.05; t=3.414, P<0.05; t=4.676, P<0.05; t=2.085, P<0.05; t=2.451, P<0.05; t=5.308, P<0.05; t=4.090, P<0.05; χ2=7.423, P<0.05; χ2=4.235, P<0.05) . The age of disease onset [(28±6) years vs (29±7) years] and glomerular filtration rate [(96±21) ml·min -1·1.73 m -2vs (103±21) ml·min -1·1.73 m -2] were statistically significantly lower than those of non-tophi patients ( t=-2.711, P<0.01; t=-4.907, P<0.01). Logistics regression analysis showed that age, course of disease, blood pressure, blood lipids level, serum uric acid level, family history of gout and smoking were risk factors for the formation of tophi in young people. After further adjusted for age, course of disease and family history of gout, it was found that serum uric acid, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and urea nitrogen remined risk factors for tophi, while glomerular filtration rate remained a protective factor in young patients. Conclusion:Young tophi patients are always obese and have lipid metabolism disorder. Young patients with high level of serum uric acid and blood pressure, decreased renal function are prone to complicate with subcutaneous tophi. More attention should be paid in clinical practice to prevent or delay the formation of tophi.

Objective:To compare the clinical outcomes between replacement with a composite press-fit radial head prosthesis versus open reduction and plate-screw internal fixation in the treatment of adult Mason Ⅲ radial head fractures.Methods:The clinical data of 64 adult patients with Mason Ⅲ radial head fracture were retrospectively analyzed who had been admitted to Department of Orthopedics, Beijing Friendship Hospital from January 2012 to December 2019. They were 18 males and 46 females, aged from 32 to 58 years (average, 45.7 years). They were divided into 2 groups: 32 cases received mini-plate-screw internal fixation (internal fixation group) and 32 cases replacement with a composite press-fit radial head prosthesis (replacement group). At the last follow-up, elbow valgus angle, range of elbow motion, Mayo score of elbow function and visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score were recorded and compared to evaluate the postoperative clinical outcomes.Results:There was no statistically significant difference in the preoperative general data between the 2 groups, showing they were comparable ( P>0.05). All patients were followed up for 8 to 48 months (average, 18.7 months). The operation time was, respectively, (81.4±8.2) min and (68.9±7.3) min for the internal fixation group and the replacement group, showing a statistically significant difference ( P< 0.05). For the internal fixation group and the replacement group at the last follow-up, the flexion and extension angles were 95° to 125° and 100° to 140°, the rotation angles 135.3°±11.2° and 143.5°±12.8°, and the Mayo scores 79.2±3.8 and 83.4±3.9, all significantly favoring the replacement group ( P<0.05). The VAS pain scores before operation and at the last follow-up were 7.6±0.7 and 0.9±0.7 for the internal fixation group, and 7.9±0.8 and 0.7±0.6 for the replacement group, showing significant differences between preoperation and the last follow-up in both groups ( P<0.05). All the incisions healed by the first intention, with no postoperative infection. Internal fixation loosening with ulnar neuritis was reported in one case in the internal fixation group; peri-prosthesis absorption with no prosthesis loosening was observed in one case in the replacements group. Conclusion:In the treatment of adult Mason Ⅲ radial head fractures, although both replacements with a composite press-fit radial head prosthesis and open reduction and plate-screw internal fixation can lead to satisfactory results, the former may be more effective.

Objective:To investigate the effect of urate-lowering therapy (ULT) on body fat and visceral fat areas in patients with gout and to analyze the related risk factors.Methods:A total of 140 patients with gout eligible for enrollment were recruited from the gout clinic in the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from Sept. 2018 to Sept. 2019. After 2 weeks of washout, all patients were treated with benzbromarone for consecutive 12 weeks. The data of blood biochemical, body fat (BF), body fat percentage (BFP) and visceral fat area (VFA) were collected, and the differences before and after ULT as well as the risk factors affecting the changes of BF, BFP, and VFA were analyzed.Results:The diastolic blood pressure (DBP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), serum uric acid (sUA), BF, BFP, and VFA were significantly decreased after ULT ( P<0.05). The results of multivariate stepwise linear regression analysis showed that sUA, creatinine (Cr) and glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were independent risk factors affecting the improvement of BF and VFA (P<0.05). Lower serum uric acid levels in patients with gout before and after ULT indicated better improvement effect of body fat and visceral fat areas( P<0.05). Conclusion:Gout combined with hyperuricemia is closely related to visceral obesity. In addition to lowering the serum uric acid level, ULT could also benefit the body fat and visceral fat area in patients with gout to some extent.

Objective : To evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of a split-virion quadrivalent influenza vaccine. Methods : The healthy people aged three years or over in Wuyang County and Xiping County of Henan Province were divided into the experimental group, control group 1 and control group 2, and were vaccinated with split-virion quadrivalent influenza vaccines, split-virion trivalent influenza vaccines (without B/Victoria) and a split-virion trivalent influenza vaccines (without B/Yamagata) , respectively. The hemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibodies were detected before and after immunization. The incidence rate of adverse events following immunization (AEFI) , HI antibody positive conversion rate, the protection rate of HI antibodies and the growth of geometric mean titer (GMT) were calculated and compared with the standard of Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Results: Totally 2 924 people were recruited, with 975 in the experimental group, 974 in the control group 1 and 975 in control group 2. The incidence rate of AEFI in the experimental group was 11.7%, higher than 7.9% in control group 1 and 8.8% in control group 2 (P < 0.05) during 30 minutes and 8 days after inoculation. The positive conversion rates of HI antibodies of H1N1, H3N2, By and Bv in the experimental group were 78.5%, 53.3%, 78.3% and 62.9%, respectively. The rate differences of the positive conversion rates of HI antibodies of By between the experimental group and control group 2, and of Bv between the experimental group and control group 1 were 42.1% (95%CI: 38.0%-46.2%) and 33.2% (95%CI: 28.9%-37.5%) , with both lower limits of 95%CI more than -0.10. The GMT increase of HI antibodies was more than 2.5 times in the three groups. The protective rates of HI antibodies of H1N1, H3N2, By and Bv in the experimental group were 87.7%, 98.7%, 93.6% and 77.2%, respectively. The protective rates of HI antibodies of By in control group 2 and Bv in control group 1 were 71.1% and 51.0%, both lower than those in the experimental group (P < 0.05). Conclusions After the inoculation of the quadrivalent influenza vaccine, the positive conversion rates (>40%) , protection rates (>70%) and GMT increase (>2.5 times) of HI antibodies of H1N1, H3N2, By and Bv all meet the quality standards of FDA. The safety and immunogenicity of the quadrivalent influenza vaccine are not inferior to those of the trivalent influenza vaccine.